The best laid plans of  mice and men....

I have plans.
Simple plans, short and long term plans that keep my mind in a constant whirl.
There is so much I want to do, to try and experience.

For example,
I want to become a top seller on Etsy.
I want to become a top seller on Amazon Books.
I want to run a least three races in 2012.
Hike to the top of Mt. Rogers, again.
Go on a mission trip.
Make my own face and body creams.
Organize my house from my garage to my basement...

Catch my drift?

Just last week, God spoke to me about all of this striving.  Me, huh?  So I looked it up.

Striving is:
1. Make a great effort to achieve or obtain something.
2. Struggle or fight vigorously

Hmm, that quiet voice spoke to my spirit telling me that I don't have to strive so hard to get these things.

Thinking and planning and working towards them was causing my inner peace to dissipate. 

 In other words, I was going about it in my own strength.

Some might call this worrying, but it was causing me frustration.

I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord.  They are plans for peace and not disaster.  Plans to give you a future filled with hope.  Jeremiah 29:11

Yes I remember that verse.

Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart.  Psalm 37:4

Now I do know this is true, too.  In fact that verse caused me to remember a  time, long ago, when my girls were little.  We were incubating eggs for 4H.  It got me excited.  I wanted to raise chickens.  How cool to have our own eggs!  But it didn't happen, not then.  Not until this summer-2012-, my husband built us a chicken coop and now we have four chickens and a rooster.  How about that?

My audience as I was writing at my computer.

And there are so many other desires of my heart that only God knows about.  And he has given  many of them to me already.  (And the ones that weren't good for me, I'm glad he was the one in control:)

So it really doesn't help to get uptight, to strive unnecessarily. A lesson relearned.

It's not wrong to have goals or desires.  It's just when I let them become my thoughts that keep me awake at night or are the first in my thoughts in the morning and it causes me unrest and irritation.   (Or I think they are impossible, like how would I EVER get enough money to go on a missions trip? )

Yet..

I have even bigger and greater desires than the ones I mentioned earlier. 

 For a long time I have had the desire to adopt an older child.

God knows.

You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace.  The mountains and hills will burst into song before you and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.  Isaiah 55:12

My daughter was able to snap some great pictures.